Michael Rinaldi back testing with Ducati track bike at Jerez
Michael Rinaldi has completed his first laps since the 2021 WorldSBK season finale in Mandalika as preparations for the 2022 season continue.
Following a big last lap crash during race two of the Indonesian round, Rinaldi was unable to join new team-mate Alvaro Bautista for an official private test in Jerez last month.
The 2022 season will be Rinaldi’s second with the Aruba.it Ducati team, which also marks the first time since he joined the world championship in 2018 that he’s stayed with the same team for consecutive campaigns.
While it was a strong first season - claimed career bests in terms of wins (3) and podiums (4), the Italian rider finished a disappointing 219 points behind former team-mate and new BMW rider Scott Redding.
It’s fair to say Ducati won’t want a gap of that magnitude between Rinaldi and Bautista, especially as the 26 year-old is someone they view as a title contender.
Rinaldi’s test in Jerez took place aboard a Panigale V4 S track bike which was painted in WorldSBK replica colours.
Rinaldi posted on his social media saying: “Back on tarmac with my Ducati Panigale V4 S.”
Rinaldi was not alone in beginning his 2022 WorldSBK preparations with a track-day in Jerez, as fellow Ducati rider Phillipp Oettl also tested a Panigale V4 S at the beginning of the week.
Oettl was provided Redding’s previous Ducati training bike by the Italian manufacturer, while the German is scheduled to be back on-track again this weekend. The former WorldSSP rider is training with Speer Racing which is a bike promotion company.
